Bonjour Paris — Notre Dame & the Seine

The plan

• Morning — Arrive CDG, transfer to the hotel, check in / rest / clean up.
• Afternoon — Walk to Notre Dame on the Île de la Cité. Even with restoration ongoing, the exterior and surrounding square are spectacular.
• Late afternoon — Seine river cruise with Vedettes du Pont-Neuf, departing Square du Vert-Galant on the Île de la Cité (a 5-minute walk from Notre Dame). About an hour with a live guide, past the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower.
• Evening — dinner after the boat, then the night is open. Anyone fighting jet lag can turn in early. Jason and Wendy are spending their free evening climbing the towers of Notre Dame (a separate ticket from the cathedral, booked ahead).

Pace notes

This is a deliberately light first day. Don't fight the jet lag — go to bed at a normal Paris hour (10–11 PM) and you'll be on schedule by Day 3.